Dive watches aren’t just about conquering depths—they’re about maintaining crystal-clear legibility in the pitch-black darkness of the ocean’s depths. In this respect, Italian luxury watchmaker, Panerai, is on a never-ending pursuit. Case in point: the Panerai Submersible Elux LAB-ID PAM01800, a concept watch that showcases some important innovations, including an incredibly cool and innovative luminescence tech.
The Panerai Submersible Elux LAB-ID PAM01800 is a dive watch unlike any other—it is a testament to the brand’s innovation and eight years of intense research and development. This watch embodies Panerai’s rich history of advancing luminescence technology, from the iconic Radiomir to the game-changing Luminor compounds, and now to the cutting-edge electroluminescence that powers this latest masterpiece.
At the heart of the Submersible Elux LAB-ID is its Power Light function is a marvel of engineering that allows you to control luminescence at the press of a button. You heard that right. A luminescence you can control! Make no mistake. This ain’t no EL backlight. This is something bigger and far more exciting than the backlight of a digital watch.
The watch’s 160 micro-LEDs, located on the dial, hands, and bezel, illuminate with mechanical energy converted into light. All it takes is a simple press on the pusher at 8 o’clock, protected by Panerai’s patented pusher-protector system. This Power Light function can be activated for a total of 30 minutes, ensuring visibility in any lighting condition, and making it a reliable tool for divers who often find themselves in the depths of the ocean, where light is scarce—if any at all.
The Elux LAB-ID draws inspiration from Panerai’s historic Elux invention, originally designed to enhance the luminescence of naval instruments for the Italian Navy. This concept has now evolved into an advanced mechanical marvel, with a linear power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock that shows the remaining energy available for lighting up the watch, keeping you informed during your underwater adventures.
The case of this watch is crafted from Ti-Ceramitech, an innovative material that combines the strength of titanium with the toughness of ceramics. This new material, the result of seven years of research, is 44% lighter than steel and boasts a fracture toughness ten times higher than traditional ceramic. Its unique blue color is not just eye-catching but also a result of Panerai’s cutting-edge Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation process, adding a futuristic touch to the rugged design.
Panerai has paid close attention to every detail, including the lighting systems for the hands and bezel. The patented hand illumination system uses high-precision springs and a 3D electronic circuit to deliver power to the micro-LEDs, while the bezel lighting involves a complex system of 60 micro-LEDs positioned under a protective ring, ensuring the watch maintains its water resistance of up to 500 meters (1,640 feet).
Equipped with the P.9010/EL Calibre, this watch features six barrels—four dedicated to powering the luminescence and two for keeping accurate time for three days. The ingenious energy conversion system transforms mechanical energy into electricity, using custom-made coils, magnets, and a high-speed rotor in a compact microgenerator to power the light shown on your wrist.
Only 150 pieces of this extraordinary timepiece will be produced, with just 50 released per year over the next three years. With its groundbreaking technology and undeniable presence, the Panerai Submersible Elux LAB-ID PAM01800 is an innovation in horology, bringing luminescence to the next level for professional divers and watch enthusiasts alike.
But, not surprisingly, it comes with a hefty sticker and that’s 97,500 USD plus tax. You most definitely need pockets as deep as the Mariana Trench to be able to afford one and also bear to wear it down into the depths of the oceans.
Images: Panerai.